Crossing the border with Blue Jays beat reporter Jordan Bastian.

A-Who?

So, Alex Rodriguez went under the knife today out in Colorado and he’s expected to be sidelined for between six to nine weeks. He’s going to be out in the land of the Rockies for a couple weeks, and apparently he’ll be riding a stationary bike later today.

The bottom line — and the reason I’m writing about this — is A-Rod ain’t here today. So it’s a little quieter at Boss Field now that the circus has left town. A-Rod is projected to be back in the Yanks’ lineup around mid May, but funny story, the Jays don’t play the Yanks at all until…the middle of May!

“Pitching wins games,” Gaston said. “Of course, they’re going to miss him. How can you not miss him? But I think they’ve still got enough offense to certainly get by until he gets back, if they pitch well. They certainly have some pitchers who are capable of pitching well.”

They sure do, including one who pitched for the Jays last year and won 18 games. Speaking of A.J. Burnett, had a nice chat with him this morning and will be writing something up a bit later. He’s still been hanging out with a few of the Jays’ players this spring and credits his time in Toronto for being ready to take on the New York spotlight.

I’m back, and beating the same drum I always beat. No doubt, we are all impressed with Snider. That is what a high-end draft pick looks like. I can’t wait to see this guy swing a bat live at the Roger’s center. However, imagine having 3 or 4 prospects at the AAA level with the same upside. Our future would look very bright, and that is exactly what can happen if we have the guts to move Halliday rather than let him walk. JP, of course, will not trade him, as he will be looking for a new job next year, and will want to show that this year’s version of the Jays had a competitive season, right down to the wire, if possible. However, I feel that we really need to take this opportunity to rebuild, rather than focus on beating out the Orioles for 4th place. To provide another example, we do not want to do what the leafs did this year — finish without the draft picks required to rebuild the organization cheaply, and from within. Let’s pay the price — like lots of other small market teams have already done — and get some of our assets out, while they are assets, in order to build for a bright future.

burt, I agree with you, but, I don’t think Jp is the guy to do the job. Part of our prospect problem is the fact for 5 years of the 7 JP’s been here his draft selections were “safe ones”, meaning university grads where the upside was limited.
Snider is one of the first high school kids we drafted. In Gillick/Beeston days all we picked were kids with high ceilings-like Snider, who someday just might be MVP.
We also used to have real scouts like Epy Guerrero in the Carribean who signed some magical players for us like Tony Fernadez, Carlos Delgado and countless others.
Sure a bunch of the young draft choices or signings washed out, but the ones who made it are still remembered by Jays fans and make a significant mark in the game.

Guys
Why all this talk about moving Halladay? The time is not right.The young pitchers need a good role model and why not learn from the best while he is here and affdordable?
The only way moving Doc is when teams get desperatate for an ace and will overpay.that may not come till the deadline in 2010.The facts are …..the Jays have alot of good young arms ready to break thru either this year or next.Marcum and McGowan will eventually return.Doc likes TO and wants to win here as a first choice..This team will never be a playoff team without a true ace.Besides, Doc is homegrown talent.It’s a longshot betting proven talent on prospects.Beeston knows this and will do what’s right when the time comes.If he’s still in charge.

Federal authorities investigating Roger Clemens on perjury charges have found performance-enhancing substances on the drug paraphernalia that his former trainer said he used to inject Clemens, according to people briefed on the case. The discovery of the substances could bolster the claims of the trainer, Brian McNamee, that he used the various items ??? including syringes, vials and gauze pads ??? to inject Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone.

New York Times

***Let’s see if Roger the Dodger gets out of this one, somehow I think not. Now, lets see if the feds charge him like they did Bonds-or sweep it under the rug because it’s Roger. Somehow, I think Roger spends huge on legal fees this year, and with this evidence he is dead on perjury charges, assuming the NYTimes article is accurate.

RF Travis Snider’s power continues to impress. His sixth-inning home run not only cleared the right-field fence but also the bleachers and the walkway behind them, landing on the grass next to Dale Mabry Highway.

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